Natural language triggering for search answer extensibility

Abstract

Embodiments provide search answer extensibility by using either one or more primary applications that is executing or residing on, or is accessible to, a first computing device that receives a natural language (NL) query and/or one or more assigned applications that is executing or residing on the first computing device or on a different second computing device to process the NL query and provide a response to the NL query.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a natural language (NL) query;   based on a semantic similarity between the NL query and a predefined query that is associated with an assigned application, determining the NL query is to be processed by the assigned application;   causing the NL query to be transmitted to the assigned application to enable the assigned application to process the NL query;   receiving a response to the NL query; and   causing the response to be provided to an output device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a similarity score for the predefined query by comparing the NL query to the predefined query, the similarity score representing the semantic similarity between the NL query and the predefined query. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transforming the NL query into one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query, wherein:
 the predefined query is represented by one or more word embeddings; and   determining the similarity score for the predefined query by comparing the NL query to the predefined query comprises determining the similarity score for the predefined query by comparing the one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query to the one or more word embeddings that represent the predefined query.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the assigned application is a first assigned application;   the predefined query is a first predefined query;   the similarity score is a first similarity score;   the assigned application is one of a plurality of assigned applications, the plurality of assigned applications including the first assigned application and a second assigned application;   the second assigned application is associated with a second predefined query; and   the method further comprises:
 determining a second similarity score for the second predefined query by comparing the NL query to the second predefined query; and 
 determining the first similarity score is higher than the second similarity score. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising normalizing the NL query prior to transmitting the NL query to the assigned application, the normalizing causing the NL query to be formatted in a format that is recognized by the assigned application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving the NL query comprises receiving a query request that includes the NL query and a user identifier that includes data that identifies a user submitting the NL query; and   the method further comprises determining, prior to transmitting the NL query to the assigned application, the user has permission to access the assigned application based on the user identifier.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving the NL query comprises receiving a query request that includes the NL query and a client identifier that includes data that identifies a client; and   the method further comprises determining which assigned applications are to be considered for processing the NL query based on the client identifier.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined query is received via a graphical user interface and stored prior to determining the NL query is to be processed by the assigned application. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a processing device; and   a storage device operably connected to the processing device and storing instructions, that when executed by the processing device, cause operations comprising:
 receiving a natural language (NL) query; 
 determining a first similarity score between the NL query and a first predefined query that is associated with a first assigned application; 
 determining a second similarity score between the NL query and a second predefined query associated with a second assigned application; 
 when the value of the first similarity score is higher than the value of the second similarity score:
 transmitting the NL query to the first assigned application to enable the first assigned application to process the NL query; 
 receiving a first response to the NL query; and 
 providing the first response to the output device; and 
 
 when a value of the second similarity score is higher than a value of the first similarity score:
 transmitting the NL query to the second assigned application to enable the second assigned application to process the NL query; 
 receiving a second response to the NL query; and 
 providing the second response to an output device. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the storage device stores further instructions for:
 transforming the NL query into one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query prior to determining the first similarity score; and   receiving one or more word embeddings that represent the first predefined query prior to determining the first similarity score.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein determining the first similarity score comprises:
 comparing the one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query to the one or more word embeddings that represent the first predefined query; and   computing the first similarity score based on how similar the one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query are to the one or more word embeddings that represent the first predefined query.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the storage device stores further instructions for:
 transforming the NL query into one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query prior to determining the second similarity score;   receiving one or more word embeddings that represent the second predefined query prior to determining the second similarity score;   comparing the one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query to the one or more word embeddings that represent the second predefined query; and   computing the second similarity score based on how similar the one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query are to the one or more word embeddings that represent the second predefined query.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the storage device stores further instructions for:
 comparing the NL query to a data domain;   determining a third similarity score between the NL query and the data domain;   when a value of the third similarity score is higher than the values of the first and the second similarity scores, providing the NL query to a primary application to process and produce a third response to the NL query; and   causing the third response to be provided to the output device.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein determining the first similarity score between the NL query and the first predefined query comprises determining the first similarity score based on a semantic similarity between the NL query and the first predefined query and a constraint associated with the first predefined query. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 receiving the NL query comprises receiving a query request that includes the NL query and a user identifier that includes data that identifies a user submitting the NL query; and   the storage device stores further instructions for determining, prior to transmitting the NL query to the first assigned application or the second assigned application, the user has permission to access the first and the second assigned applications based on the user identifier.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 receiving the NL query comprises receiving a query request that includes the NL query and a client identifier that includes data that identifies a client; and   the storage device stores further instructions for determining which assigned applications are to be considered for processing the NL query based on the client identifier.   
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a primary application, a natural language (NL) query;   determining a first similarity score between the NL query and a predefined query, wherein the predefined query is associated with an assigned application;   determining a second similarity score between the NL query and a data domain, wherein the data domain is associated with data that is accessible by the primary application;   determining a value of the first similarity score is higher than a value of the second similarity score;   based on determining the value of the first similarity score is higher, determining the NL query is to be processed by the assigned application;   causing the NL query to be transmitted to the assigned application to enable the assigned application to process the NL query;   receiving a response to the NL query; and   causing the response to be provided to an output device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 transforming the NL query into one or more word embeddings that represent the NL query prior to determining the first similarity score; and   receiving one or more word embeddings that represent the first predefined query prior to determining the first similarity score.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining the value of the second similarity score is higher than the value of the first similarity score;   based on determining the value of the second similarity score is higher, determining the NL query is to be processed by the primary application;   receiving a response to the NL query; and   causing the response to be provided to the output device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining the first similarity score between the NL query and the predefined query comprises determining the first similarity score based on a semantic similarity between the NL query and the first predefined query and a constraint associated with the first predefined query.